Heightened security measures were immediately put in place and reports suggested the government could ask for the match to be postponed. "At the moment there's no likelihood at all that the game will be postponed," a Uefa spokesman said. "Everything points to it going ahead as normal. Obviously we're monitoring the situation and we're in close contact with people over there. But we have had no requests to postpone the game."

Uefa director of communications William Gaillard admitted that the final decision as to whether the game goes ahead or not lies with the Russian authorities. "Obviously the decision rests with the government," said Gaillard. "They are sovereign over what happens on their land. Their say is final on events in their country."